New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
Colin A. Young
State House News Service
After securing the go-ahead from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and running tests on the system, the Department of Transitional Assistance announced Friday that Massachusetts residents who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits can now buy groceries online through Amazon and Walmart with electronic benefit transfer cards.
DTA said the benefits can be used to buy SNAP-eligible foods online, including fresh produce, frozen foods, dairy and eggs, plant seeds and more. Online purchases can be delivered through Amazon and some Walmart locations, and many Walmart stores also offer curbside pickup.
“The Administration has been working to use all tools available to address food insecurity exacerbated by this public health crisis,” Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders said. “SNAP is one of the best tools available to fight hunger, putting money directly into the hands of our residence (sic) and local economy. This innovative option enables families across the Commonwealth to purchase food directly and safely.”
And this does absolutely zero good when it’s impossible to apply for SNAP benefits online. Their website has been broken for months. I’ve tried countless times to apply at this point and I receive errors every single time. It’s a damn joke.